Please come along, you will make new friends, and maybe even meet up again with old ones!”

This is the report of our latest meeting:

I first considered suggesting to Carolyn the idea of a group for the Trent region when I attended the PINNT Weekend last year. I know the value of fellow-patient support, having been introduced to another lady who was on HPN when I was in hospital being trained. Her encouragement was vital in helping me accept the therapy. I feel it is essential to know someone who faces the same dilemmas and fears in what can be a very isolating therapy, and this is why PINNT’s regional groups are so important.

Our inaugural meeting was on Saturday 2nd August at the Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, and was combined with the PINNT AGM.

The meeting began with a welcome presentation from Dr Jeremy Nightingale, who has a special interest in clinical nutrition and is the Trent regional rep for BAPEN. The AGM followed, with the Executive Committee being represented by Carolyn, Ian and Geoff. Carolyn and Ian read their reports, then took questions in ‘Any Other Business’. Among the things discussed were membership fees and raising PINNT’s profile in the media.

Lunch was followed by a presentation from John Kennedy, Nutrition Nurse, entitled ‘The Role of a Multi-disciplinary Nutritional Support Team’. After I had introduced myself formally to the group, Carolyn chaired an Open Forum, where ideas were exchanged for the future of the new group.

I would like to thank Dr Nightingale and John Kennedy (both PINNT members) for their support and their very interesting and entertaining presentations; everyone that attended; and also everyone who took the trouble to reply to their invitation. Whilst the attendance could have been bigger, everyone who came along was very enthusiastic, and I feel we have achieved our aim of establishing a solid base from which we can progress.